“E-mails travel over the internet where unauthorized individuals may gain access...Therefore, it may still be best for parents to utilize another method of communication when informing a teacher of particularly sensitive material or
      requesting a teacher to do the same.”
      Meeting last month, the Boardman Local School Board approved policies on the use of computer programs and networking, as well as an ‘Acceptable Use’ policy and agreement for the faculty and staff of the system’s some 550-plus employees.
      The acceptable use policy “encourages teachers, students, staff and other school community members to use social networking media,” including DRUND, Trwitter and Facebook, “as a way to connect with others, share educational resources, create and curate educational content, and enhance the classroom experience.”
      The acceptable use policy suggests a variety of guidelines to be followed when “representing [the Boardman Local Schools] in the virtual world.”
      Those guidelines include:
       •Use good judgement
       •Assume all information on a social network is public information
       •Unless specifically authorized to represent [the school system] as a spokesperson, state that views expressed in postings (as belonging to the person who posted the message)
       •Be a good listener...ask questions directly and to share feedback
       •Don’t share confidential information...Online conversations are never private. Do not use a birth date, address or cell phone number on any public web site
       •To insure personal safety, use caution about the amount of personal information provided on the web.
       •Avoid talking about personal schedules or situations
       •Never give out, or transmit personal information of students, parents or co-workers
       •Don’t assume all information retrieved from the web is current
       •Do not post pictures of others without their permission
       •Pay attention to security warnings
      The acceptable use policy and agreement for faculty and staff says all activity over a school network may be monitored and retained and access via that network may be restricted, according to school policy and federal guidelines (such as the Children’s Internet Protection Act).
      According to the policy, staff members “may use” personally owned devices (including laptops, smartphones and cell phones) at any time during school hours, unless such use interferes with the delivery of instruction, or creates “a disturbance” in the educational environment.
      “Misuse of personally-owned devices can result in disciplinary action, Therefore, proper netiquette and adherence to the acceptable use policy should always be used,” says the policy.
      An example of netiquette says that “users should remember not to post anything on line that they wouldn’t want parents, teachers or future colleges or employers to see. Once something is online, it’s out there and can sometimes be shared and spread in ways the user never intended.”
      In saying that cyber-bullying will never be tolerated, the acceptable use policy defines cyberbullying messages as “harassing, dissing, flaming, denigrating, impersonating, outing, tricking or cyber-stalking.
      “Don’t be mean. Don’t send e-mails or post comments with the intent of scaring, hurting or intimidating someone else.”
      The policy advises staff members to report any actions by students that would violate the security or integrity of any computer, network or messaging system, whenever suck actions become known to them in the normal course of their work duties.”
      Violation of the cyber policy could have repercussions, including suspension of network capabilities, parent notification, detention or suspension, and legal action and/or prosecution.
      The acceptable use policy also mandates that parents wishing to communicate with teachers must sign an agreement and file an e-mail address with the school district.
      However, the policy says that e-mails travel over the internet where “unauthorized individuals may gain access...Therefore, it may still be best for parents to utilize another method of communication when informing a teacher of particularly sensitive material or requesting a teacher to do the same.”
      The school board has amended its policy on tobacco use by students.
      Noting that “health professionals have determined that the use of tobacco products can be detrimental to health, the school board outlawed use of “alternative nicotine products and electronic cigarettes” by any student on school property.
      The school board also prohibits students from smoking, use or possession of tobacco in any form---including cigarettes, cigars, clove cigarettes, chewing tobacco and snuff.
      “Health professionals have determined that smoking causes health hazards not only for the smoker, but the non-smoker as well. Recognizing these health issues, the school board prohibits smoking in all district-owned, leased or contracted buildings and vehicles. The school board may designate a legally complaint outdoor smoking area,” says the policy.